Do belo ao monstruoso: reimaginando a Medusa na figura de Cassiopeia no jogo League of Legends.

Abstract

Mythology is a rich source of plots that inspire the construction of fantastic characters in various media, including contemporary literary works and audiovisual productions such as songs, films and digital games. Narratives involving goddesses, tragic characters and mythical creatures provide symbols that resonate with the human experience, addressing issues such as destiny, the struggle between good and evil, the quest for power and personal tragedy. Greco-Roman mythology provides the symbols and archetypes that underpin Western literature, influencing contemporary narratives, including digital games, where these elements are integrated and adapted to new contexts. This research investigates the relationship between classical mythology and digital games, analyzing how mythological narratives, in particular the myth of Medusa, are interpreted in League of Legends game universes, through the character Cassiopeia. The methodology adopted is a comparative analysis, which discusses the concepts of myth (Eliade, 2019; Vernant, 2009; Grimal, 1999, 2005, 2009), game (Huizinga, 2019; Caillois, 1990; Retondar, 2013) and archetypes (Jung, 1964, 2002, 2020; Brandão, 1986; Campbell, 1997; Stein, 2006; Bolen, 1990). The research also delves into the representation of Medusa in classical literature and art (Hesiod, 1988, 2006; Ovid, 2017; Apollodoro, 1997; Nogueira, 2018; Riordan, 2014), as well as exploring the notions of beauty (Wolf, 1992; Robles, 2019; Suassuna, 2012) and monstrosity (Cohen, 2000; Nazário, 1998), with special attention to issues of power, sexuality and female empowerment (Foucault, 2001; Beauvoir, 1970; Bataille, 1987; Hilgert, 2020), both in the original myth and in the contemporary narrative of Cassiopeia (Games, 2010, 2020; Heide, 2010). The aim of the research is to demonstrate how classical mythologies continue to exert significant influence on the construction of contemporary identities and meanings, especially in the context of digital games. The analysis reveals the intersection between ancient cultural traditions and new forms of interactive storytelling. In addition, the reinterpretation of Medusa in Cassiopeia highlights the duality present in these narratives, exposing how they reflect the challenges and struggles faced by women throughout history.